Pool cover



Nov. 29, 1966 s. LANGER" 3,287,740

POOL COVER Original Filed Jan. 10, 1964' INVENTOR.

SOL LANGER.

BY Amm 9m AT TO Efi/ United States Patent 3,287,740. POOL C OVER Sol Langer, Scotch Plains, N.J., assignor, bymesne assignments, to Andray Products, Inc., Orange, N.J., a

corporation of New Jersey Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 336,932,

Jan. 10,1964. This application Jan; 7, 1966, Ser. No.

1 8 Claims. (Cl. 4-.-172) This is a continuation of application Serial No. 336,932 filed January 10, 1964, now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to a safety cover fora swimming pool, and in particular to an adjustable and removable cover for a circular swimming pool of the portable and erectable type.

In recent years, portable pools which may be erected above the ground and vary in diameter up to thirty feet and in depth up to six feet have become quite popular. Such pool usually incorporates a frame terminating in a rim which bounds. a circular open top and receiving a removable plastic liner. Although the purchaser may buy a pool of a specified diameter, the actual diameter of the pool as erected may vary from the indicated size and intended shape due both to minor variations in manufacturing and. the manner in which the user erects the pool. In order to provide an effective safety cover for such a pool, it becomes necessary to tailor fit or size a poolv cover -thereto. For widespread adaption and use of any particular cover construction, it is rather important that the sizing be such. as to readily accommodate the cover to pools'which may vary from the manufacturers indicated size and shape. When sized, itis important that the user be able to remove the cover when the pool is to be put into use and to replace the cover without the necessity of there-sizing the same.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pool cover which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a safety cover for a circular pool which may be readily adjusted by the user to accommodate the cover to variations in size and shape of the pool. from the manufacturers indic'at'ed dimensions and shape and to provide a taut closure over the major portion of the pool at least contiguous to the outer margin thereof.

'Inaccordance with. an illustrative embodiment demo nstrating,objectsv and features of the present invention there is provided. a pool cover for a swimming pool of the type having a rim bounding an open top which comprises a cover body of-a material capable of being gathered having arim bounding an open top which comprises a cover. body, as of a stretchable material having an outer edge. Mounting means extend from the outer edge of the cover body, preferably in the form of swivelled hooks which are attached: to the cover body and are adapted to engage the rim of the swimming pool for releasably securing the cover. body. on the. pool in closing relation to the open top. Sizing means are operatively connected to the cover body and are operable for gathering the cover body towards a central section thereof such that an annular section of the cover body surrounding the central section and extending towards the outer-edge is taut and provides a relatively non-yieldable closure over the corresponding portion of the pool, In a typical embodiment, the sizing means. includes a drawstring, a draw ring of relatively non-stretchable material secured to the. cover body inwardly of and in concentric. relation to the outer edge and means on the draw ring defining a substantially circular guideway for the drawstring.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atypical erectable and portable swimming pool having a pool or safety cover embodying features of the present inventionmounted thereon and adjusted to provide a taut closure over the major portion of the pool;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the pool cover, with the rim of the. pool being shown by dot-dash lines, taken substantially along the lines 22 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows showing details of the pool cover.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1, a typical erectable and portable swimming pool 10 of the type which includes an upstanding rigid circular pool wall 12 terminating at its upper end in a rim 14 bounding a corresponding circular open top 14a. As is generally understood a liner of plastic or other waterproof material is inserted into the pool and attached to the rim 14 in any convenient fashion. Details of the pool 10 form no part of the present invention and are subject to a latitude of variation, change and substitution. Accordingly, further description of the illustrative pool is dispensed with.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pool cover, generally designated by the reference numeral 16, which may be sized to fit the substantially circular pool 10. When one size, the pool cover 16 will provide a relatively taut closure over the major portion of the pool 10, The pool cover 16 includes a circular cover body 18 fabricated of a stretchable woven material which is capable of being gathered, such as of a nylon mesh. Secured to the outer periphery of the cover body 18 is a binding 20 of a substantially non-stretchable material which may be secured to the cover body 18 by several rows, of stitching 22. As seen best in FIG. 3, the binding 20 includes an upper section or ply 20a which overlies the adjacent outer edge of the cover body 18 and a lower section or ply 20b which underlies the cover 18, with the stitching 22- extending through the three superposed plies.

Spaced attachment means are mounted on the binding 20 and are adapted to be engaged over the rim 14 of the pool 10 for releasably securing the cover body. 18 on the pool in closing relation to the open top 14a thereof. In this illustrative embodiment, the attachment means includes plural mounting grommets 24 which are secured to the binding 20 at spaced locations about the periphery or circumference of the cover 16 and attachment hooks 26 Which are swivelled on the respective mounting grommets 24 and releasably engaged over the rim 14 of the pool 10.. The attachment hooks 26 each include a downwardly opening U-shaped body 26a terminating at one end in a mounting loop 26b which extends through the corresponding grommet 24 and at the other end in an inturned end 26c which is adapted to extend beneath the rim 14, as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Sizing means including a drawstring 28 are arranged in a circular configuration and are operatively connected to the cover body 18 in order to accommodate the latter to variations in diameter and shape encountered as a result of looseness in manufacturing tolerances and/or variations introduced during. the setup of the portable pool 10. For example, experience, indicates that a pool which is sold as being twelve" feet in diameter may be under or oversized as much as 3 to 4 inches; when set up, the pool 10 may become non-circular and assumes a somewhat oval configuration. Corresponding variations must be introduced into the cover 16 to enable the same to provide an effective closure across the open top 14a of the pool 10. The sizing means further includes a draw ring 30 of non-stretchable material which is secured to the cover body 18 inwardly of and in concentric relation to the outer binding or piping 20, with means on the draw ring defining a substantially circular guideway for an intermediate section 28a of the drawstring 28. In this illustrative embodiment, the outer periphery 30a of the draw ring 30 is secured to the cover body 18 by several rows of stitching 32, with the inner periphery 30b of the draw ring being free. At spaced circumferential locations about the draw ring 30 inwardly of the free inner periphery or edge 30b thereof, there is provided a plurality of spaced grommets or eyelets 34 which define a circular guideway which receives the intermediate section 28a of the drawstring 28. In this illustrative arrangement, the drawstring 28 extends successively above and below the draw ring 30 and upon a pull being exerted upon one or both ends thereof is effective to diminish the extent of the draw ring 30.

The draw ring 30 inwardly of the stitching 32 defines a substantially circular central section 18a of the cover body 18 which becomes of progressively diminishing circular section or extent and into which is gathered the excess material of the stretchable cover body 18 as the drawstring 28 is pulled to size the cover 16 to the particular size and configuration of the open top 14a of the pood 10. correspondingly, there is provided an annular section 18b of the cover body 18 outwardly of the spaced rows of stitching 32 and extending to the binding 20 which is drawn into a taut condition, as seen best in FIG. 1, in response to the sizing of the cover 16 to the particular pool. Thus, at the critical locations contiguous to the rim 14 of the pool 10, the cover 16 is taut and in practice is sufficiently rigid to support the Weight of at least one child and affords the corresponding necessary protection when the pool is not in use. Preferably, the end or terminal sections 28b, 280 of the drawstring 28 extend in criss cross relation beneath the loose central section 18a of the cover body 18 to afford an underlying support therefor such that the entire cover is effected to support weight for protective purposes.

It will be appreciated that the utilization of the cover 16 would be materially simplified if it was not necessary to size the same to the pool 10 after each recurring use of the cover. To this end, one end section, such as the end section 28b of the drawstring 28 is anchored to the binding 20, preferably at the corresponding looped mounting end 26b of the adjacent attachment hook 26 through the provision of a coil spring 36. The other end section, such as the end section 280 of the drawstring 28, is anchored to the cover body 18 at the binding thereof through a further attachment hook 26 at a location removed from the first named attachment hook with the spring 36 under tension such that the drawstring 28 exerts an inwardly directed pull on the cover body 18 tending to main the major section 18b thereof in a taut condition. The flexible resilient link afforded by the spring 36 in the drawstring arrangement enables the removal of the cover 16 and its reapplication without the necessity of resizing of the cover 16 for the particular poo In actual use, the plural attachment hooks 26 are engaged over the rim 14 of the pool 10. The user then pulls on one end or terminal section of the drawstring 28, such as the end 28c by reaching underneath the pool cover 16 at the appropriate location. After a sufficient pull is exerted to tension the major portion 18b of the cover body 18 and to place the spring 36 under tension, the end section 28c is anchored, as by providing a knot 28d. Thereupon the cover 16 is conditioned for use. When the user decides to remove the cover 16, it

is a relatively simple matter to disengage the hooks 26 without changing the adjusted position of the drawstring 28 and the cover 16 may be removed to afford access to the pool 10. At such time when the pool is no longer in use, the cover is reapplied and the tension of the spring 36 will automatically be reestablished to draw the cover into taut condition, as heretofore described.

A latitude of modification, change and substituttion is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A cover for a pool having a top comprising a cover body of a material capable of being gathered having an outer edge, mounting means on' said outer edge of said cover body adapted to engage said rim for releasably securing said cover body on said pool in closing relation to said open top, and sizing means operatively connected to said cover body and operable for gathering said material toward a central, section of said cover body such that an annular section of cover body surrounding said central section and extending.

toward said outer edge is taut and provides a relatively non-yieldable closure over the corresponding portion of said pool.

2. A pool cover according to claim 1 including a peripheral binding of non-stretchable material secured to said cover body and wherein said mounting means is on said binding.

3. A pool cover according to sizing means includes a drawstring, stretchable material secured to said cover body inwardly of and in concentric relation to said outer edge, and means on said draw ring defining a substantially circular guideway for said drawstring.

4. A cover according to claim 3 wherein said sizing means further includes plural spaced eyelets mounted on said draw ring and defining a circular guideway, said drawstring extending through said circular guideway and being operable to diminish the extent of said draw ring upon being pulled.

5. A cover according to claim 4 including respective means for anchoring the opposite ends of said drawstring on said binding and having a spring connected to one end of said drawstring which is maintained under tension whereby said drawstring continuously urges said material toward said central section.

6. A pool cover according to claim 1 wherein said cover body is circular'and fabricated of a woven material and has a binding secured to the periphery thereof.

7. A pool cover according to claim 6 wherein said mounting means includes plural mounting grommets on claim 1 wherein said said binding and attachment hooks swiveled on the re-- spective mounting grommets and. adapted to be releasably engageable over said rim.

8. A pool cover according to claim 7 wherein said sizing means includes a draw ring of non-stretchable material secured to said cover body inwardly of and in concentric relation to said binding, and means on said draw ring defining a substantially circular guideway for said drawstring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,565 3/1914 Port -52 2,437,058 3/1948 Waters l5052' 3,143,122 8/1964 Goodrich 4-172 3,184,764 5/1965 rim bounding an open a draw ring of non- 

1. A COVER FOR A POOL HAVING A RIM BOUNDING AN OPEN TOP COMPRISING A COVER BODY OF A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF BEING GATHERED HAVING AN OUTER EDGE, MOUNTING MEANS ON SAID OUTER EDGE OF SAID COVER BODY ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID RIM FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID COVER BODY ON SAID POOL IN CLOSING RELATION TO SAID OPEN TOP, AND SIZING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID COVER BODY AND OPERABLE FOR GATHERING SAID MATERIAL TOWARD A CENTRAL SECTION OF SAID COVER BODY SUCH THAT AN ANNULAR SECTION OF COVER BODY SURROUNDING SAID CENTRAL SECTION AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID OUTER EDGE IS TAUT AND PROVIDES A RELATIVELY NON-YIELDING CLOSURE OVER THE CORRESPONDING PORTION OF SAID POOL. 